Dr. Mike Pinter, professor of mathematics and director of the Teaching Center, was named the 2012 Tennessee Professor of the Year Thursday in Washington D.C.
“This will definitely stand out as one of the highlights of my career,” Pinter said.
Out of about 300 professors in the United States who were nominated for this award, Pinter topped the list in the Volunteer State.
Professors from colleges and universities spanning 30 states and the District of Columbia were nominated and one from each state was honored this year by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education. State winners are selected upon entries reviewed by a panel of judges.
The fact that Dr. Pinter received this award confirms what is well known about him, said Dr. Bryce Sullivan, dean of Belmont’s College of Arts and Sciences.
“His gift and scholarly approach to teaching, his humility and his heart for students are some of his characteristics that exemplify what it means to be the very best,” Sullivan said in a statement.
This is the fifth year in which a Belmont professor has been selected as the state professor of the year after Dr. Mike Awalt in 2000, Dr. David Julseth in 2001, Dr. Pete Giordano in 2007 and Dr. John Gonas in 2008.
Pinter said with all of the quality professors at Belmont, he is just humbled to be the one chosen this year.
Pinter came to Belmont in 1989 and has since been the associate dean for the School of Sciences and the interim dean for the College of Arts and Sciences.
Mike Pinter is also married to Dr. Robbie Pinter, a faculty member in the Belmont English Department.
She is just thrilled for her husband. He is so deserving of this award and works so hard to help all of his students whether they are in undergraduate or graduate level courses, she said.
The university will host a celebration for Pinter on Nov. 27 from 3-5 p.m. in the Vince Gill Room.
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